First Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In Miss USA State Pageant

BURNSVILLE, MN — A young woman named Mikayla Holmgren applied to the Miss Minnesota USA Pageant wholly unsure of her chances of getting in. Holmgren sent in her application "not knowing if I would be accepted. And, that is all I want...to be accepted," the 22-year-old wrote on her GoFundMe page. "Well, I am in."

Nine months later, on Sunday night at the Ames Center in Burnsville, Holmgren became the first woman with Down syndrome to compete in a Miss USA state pageant. She was awarded the Miss Minnesota USA Spirit Award and the Director’s Award.

"You make people smile every time you talk, cheer, smile and dance," said Denise Wallace Heitkamp, executive state director, as she announced Holmgren as the winner of the Spirit Award. "You exude the spirit of Miss USA by always being true to yourself and putting others first. You have selflessness, humility and the ability to overcome obstacles with a smile on your face and excitement in your heart."

Holmgren, wearing a royal-blue evening gown, accepted both of her awards with standing ovations, the Pioneer Press reported.

Holmgren is from a small town outside of Saint Paul called "Marine on St. Croix." She was born six and a half weeks early and needed multiple surgeries in the days after, her family told Ruby's Rainbow, a non-profit that grants scholarships to people with Down syndrome:

Mikayla would say her first word at 9 months. She would start walking at 13 months. Again, doctors and therapists were amazed at how strong she was becoming.

Dreams had been shattered when we were told Mikayla had Down Syndrome. But we were determined to make new dreams. After reading an article on the benefits of dancing for children with special needs, we decided to enroll her when she was in first grade. We thought, if nothing else, it would be a good social activity for her to be with other children.

Now, Holmgren says she loves being on stage and choreographs her own dances. She has spoken to the Minnesota Legislature on policies regarding Trisomies. In 2016, Holmgren received a scholarship from Ruby's Rainbow and now attends Bethel University in Minnesota.

More than $4,500 was raised to pay for Holmgren's Miss Minnesota bid. "I want the world to know that Down Syndrome does not define me," she wrote on GoFundMe. "With your help, I can help break through walls." Donations came from people across the United States and Canada.

As for what's next, Holmgren plans to do more dancing and modeling. "I have a big future," she told BuzzFeed.

Kalie Wright became the new Miss Minnesota USA Sunday. Peyton Schroeder was the recipient of Miss Minnesota Teen USA.

Watch Now: First Miss USA State Pageant Contestant With Down Syndrome

Image via GoFundMe